Our Story

For 106 years, Starr Commonwealth has led with courage to create positive experiences so that all children, families, and communities can flourish.

Our roots date back to 1913, when a young man named Floyd Starr purchased a barn and 40 scrub-covered acres in Albion, Mich., to create refuge for “homeless, dependent, neglected and delinquent boys.” In his heart he held a revolutionary belief, that “there is no such thing as a bad child,” and with steadfast conviction and the support of his family, his “boys,” and the commonwealth he sought to help every child see and believe in their greatness.

Today, Starr Commonwealth continues to build on the legacy of “Uncle Floyd” and the tenets we still hold true. Operating programs across the country and globe, Starr offers community-based programs, residential treatment services, educational and behavioral health services, and professional training and coaching to heal trauma and build resilience in all children, adolescents, and the professionals that serve them.

Starr believes, as Uncle Floyd did, that when you treat a child with dignity and respect, it changes a child’s heart. And that, in the end, is what changes a child’s life. It’s a powerful story, and we hope you will be part of writing the many success stories that are waiting to be told.

We are driven to heal. And together, we are building a bright future for all.

“We are all part of the same family. In every school and neighborhood, there are children without hope, but no child is hopeless. Each was put here for a purpose. These are just children who have not yet discovered their purpose. That is our mission.”